Background

This survey was undertaken by the New Zealand Wildlife Trust in conjunction with the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation to ascertain the economic impact of the Fiordland Wapiti herd on the Te Anau economy.

Objectives

The primary objective was to gain an understanding of the economic impact of Wapiti hunters on the
Te Anau area during the Wapiti bugle and whether the Wapiti herd could be considered as a 'resource' which is of economic benefit to the region. In order to achieve this a number of areas were examined:

• Expenditure of Wapiti hunters while in the Te Anau area
  
• The nature of expenditure by hunters
  
• Hunter numbers per party
  
• Non hunter numbers accompanying hunting groups
  
• Hunter accommodation and length of stay while in Te Anau

Methodology employed

The survey was conducted by mail survey during Nov/Dec 2003 and 71 useable surveys were obtained from a mail out to 270 hunters who had participated in the 2002 and 2003 bugles, representing a 26% response rate. However, in total the 71 responses represented 244 hunters as many responded as a group/hunting party.

In the four years 2000 to 2003, there was an average of 215 hunters in hunting parties allocated hunting blocks through the Wapiti ballot. In 2003, there were 255 hunters in the Wapiti hunting blocks during the bugle. For the purposes of this study, 255 was used as the number of hunters allocated hunting blocks and hunting in the Wapiti area.

Survey Summary Highlights

The survey provided a robust view of Wapiti hunter expenditure while in the Te Anau region. Below is a summary of the main findings:

Place of residence

• 64.0% of hunters were from the South Island, 29.0% from the North Island and 7.0% from Australia.

Primary reason for visiting Te Anau

• 96.0% of hunters visited Te Anau primarily to hunt in the Wapiti area

Nature of party

• The majority of people in each party were hunters (91%), with only 9% being non hunters.

Size of hunting party

• The most common size of the hunting party was 4 with 45.0%, followed by 3 with 18.0%.

Length of Stay

• The majority of hunters (87.0%) stayed at least one night in Te Anau before heading for their hunting block and a similar amount stayed one night in Te Anau on return from their hunting area and before heading home. The average length of stay in Te Anau before undertaking the hunting trip was 1.25 and after the hunting trip was 1.21.

Accommodation used

• The most common type of accommodation used was the camping ground (31.5%), followed by family and friends (28.5%), motels (17.5%) and backpackers (14.5%). Hotels accounted for (8.0%).

Breakdown of Expenditure while in Te Anau

• Perhaps as expected the biggest expenditure item was for transport to and from the hunting block. This accounted for 47.0% of all expenditure and across the hunting parties totaled some $98,139 with an average spend per person of $384.
• Groceries including beverages for the hunting trip were the next major item of expenditure with a total of $33,941 and an average spend per person of $133.
• Food and beverage whilst in Te Anau totaled $25,136 at an average per person spend of $98.57.
• Hunting related purchases totaled $17,140 at an average of $67.21 and accommodation while in Te Anau amounted to $14,644 at an average spend per night of $35.
• Other expenses amounted to $5,737 at an average spend of $22.50 per person.

Conclusion

In total, hunters who came primarily to hunt Wapiti during the bugle spent a total of $209,227 whilst in the Te Anau area with an average spend per hunter of $820.00.

There is a clear benefit to the region from the Wapiti hunters and their initial direct expenditure ($209,227) will have a multiplier effect as a proportion of each dollar is re spent within the Te Anau area by those receiving hunter expenditure.

Those providing transport for the hunters to their hunting blocks, principally helicopter operators are clearly the major beneficiaries of hunter expenditure, accounting for some 47% of total expenditure. Those providing groceries, food and beverage, hunting and camping related equipment and accommodation also benefit in some way from Wapiti hunter expenditure.

The economic impact of Wapiti hunters on Te Anau is apparent and if one considers that these are not the only hunters in the region during the bugle/roar period and also at other times of the year, then it can be concluded that hunters do have a measurable economic benefit to the region. How this compares with the economic impact of other tourists as a whole is unknown, but at an otherwise quieter time of the year in the shoulder of the tourist season, it would be expected that the Te Anau community significantly benefits from hunter groups at this time.

While some may see that there is also an environmental cost to having the Wapiti herd in the Fiordland National Park that evaluation has often been based on a judgment value, and what has been attempted here is to move beyond judgment values and record practical economic values which may then be used to assess the social value of the Wapiti herd to not only the region but the country as a whole

The objective of this study was to examine the economic impact of Wapiti on the Te Anau region. The survey has shown there is a significant economic benefit and that the Wapiti herd could be considered as another economic resource from which the Te Anau region benefits.